Volkl M5 Mantra all-mountain skis (powder spray)

Volkl M5 Mantra Ski Review

Last Updated: July 8, 2020

Volkl’s Mantra is one of the most well-respected skis among dedicated all-mountain riders, and the current model delivers serious speed and stability on hardpack. We put the 177-centimeter M5 Mantra to the test in Washington state and found that it’s a...
Patagonia PowSlayer ski jacket (touring).jpg

Patagonia PowSlayer Jacket Review

Last Updated: July 7, 2020

At the top of Patagonia’s ski touring collection is their PowSlayer: a highly protective and breathable shell built for serious backcountry use. This jacket is about as premium as it gets with Gore’s top-end Pro construction, a thoughtfully designed...
Flylow Gear Quantum Pro Jacket (zipping up before descending)

Flylow Gear Quantum Pro Jacket Review

Last Updated: July 6, 2020

Designed for use both on and off piste, Flylow Gear’s Quantum Pro Jacket offers standout levels of protection. Using in-house waterproofing and a substantial face fabric, it proved to be a great...
Mammut Stoney ski jacket (mountain backdrop)

Mammut Stoney Hardshell Jacket Review

Last Updated: July 2, 2020

The ski jacket market is certainly stacked in 2020, but we like what Mammut has come up with in their Stoney shell. Featuring in-house waterproofing, a stretchy build, and a functional feature set, the Stoney ticks most of the boxes we look for in a...
Patagonia 3-in-1 Snowshot ski jacket (standing with snowboard)

Patagonia 3-in-1 Snowshot Jacket Review

Last Updated: July 1, 2020

Patagonia’s Snowshot (and women’s Snowbelle) is the company’s leading resort offering and comes in a number of variations, from a standard hardshell to a 3-in-1 jacket. In testing the...
Patagonia Powder Bowl ski jacket (looking uphill)

Patagonia Powder Bowl Jacket Review

Last Updated: June 25, 2020

Patagonia’s leading resort jacket is their Snowshot (and women’s Snowbelle), but their pricier Powder Bowl line offers a notable step up in performance. We put the uninsulated men’s Powder Bowl to the test in Washington state and along B.C.’s aptly...
Patagonia Primo Puff Ski Snowboard Jacket (skiing in mountains)

Patagonia Primo Puff Ski Jacket Review

Last Updated: June 25, 2020

Patagonia’s ski lineup runs the gamut from technical, backcountry-ready hardshells to insulated resort options. Sitting at the top of their inbounds collection in both warmth and price is the Primo Puff, which...
Norrona Trollveggen hardshell jacket (turning in powder)

Norrøna Trollveggen Gore-Tex Pro Jacket Review

Last Updated: June 24, 2020

Norway-based Norrøna isn’t a household name in the U.S. like Arc’teryx or Patagonia, but they offer a quality lineup of serious hardshells built for demanding backcountry pursuits. We brought the...
Tecnica Plasma S GTX hiking shoe (standing in mountains in Peru)

Tecnica Plasma S GTX Hiking Shoe Review

Last Updated: June 24, 2020

Standout innovations in hiking footwear are few and far between, but Italy-based Tecnica is onto something with their new heat-moldable shoes. Released last spring, the Plasma lineup offers a customizable fit...
Great Ocean Walk (hiking along bluff above ocean)

Australia's Great Ocean Walk

In a rolling grassy landscape reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands, I stop and let out a startled gasp. Just 20 feet in front of me, a kangaroo stands on the trail and looks casually at my hiking partner and me. Then, as if slowly transposed upon...
Vasque Grand Traverse (in Utah)

Vasque Grand Traverse Review

Last Updated: June 2, 2020

The Vasque Grand Traverse isn’t your Swiss Army Knife outdoor shoe, but it is one of the most fun pairs we’ve tested this year. With a lightweight and flexible build that is great for desert scrambling, this hybrid hiking and approach shoe is about as...
Arc'teryx Alpha FL jacket (mountain backdrop)

Arc'teryx Alpha FL Jacket Review

Last Updated: May 20, 2020

Arc’teryx's Alpha series is designed for top-notch climbing and alpine performance, and their “FL” represents fast and light. True to its name, the Alpha FL jacket is minimalist and lightweight, yet meticulously designed and highly protective. We took...